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Ancient Science of Life, Vol No. VI No. 4 April 1987, Pages 238 - 243

PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDIES ON WAGATEA SPICATA DALZELL

S. R. SURANGE AND S. S. DEOKULE

Department of Botany, University of Poona, Pune – 411 007, India.

Received: 2 June 1986 Accepted: 21 September, 1986 ABSTRACT: Wagatea spicata Dalzell, family : Leguminosae (Caesalpiniaceae) known in vernacular as ‘Vagati” or “Vakeri”, is a montotypic genus of a robust woody, climbing shrub growing abundantly in Maharashtra State, especially in Konkan jungles and on the Ghats near Mahabaleshwar. The roots are known to be used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis and pneumonia since long in the Indian system of medicine. The bark is used for skin diseases. The seeds possess an oil which is sometimes used for lighting purposes. Since the plant is abundantly used in Indian system of Medicine the authors carried out pharmacognostic studies on its parts in order to find out adulterations, if any, which is presented here. INTRODUCTION Wagatea spicata Dalzell, family : Leguminosae (Caesalpiniaceae), known in vernacular as “Vagati” or “Vakeri”, is a monotypic genus of a robust woody, climbing shrub, with long trailing prickly branches growing abundantly in Konkan jungles and on the Ghats near Mahabaleshwar Cooke, (1958)1. It is also found in Karnataka and Kerala hills up to an altitude of 900 M. and also reported from Mt. Abu in Rajasthan. The roots are used in pneumonia Kiritikar, and Basu, (1933)2; Chopra, (1933)3 mentions its use in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. The bark is used as an application for skin diseases Nadkarni, (1927)4 and Chopra et al (1956)5. The seed oil is sometimes used for lighting purpose Chopra et al. (1958)6 and Maheshwari et al. (1965)7. Except for some chemical and pharmacological investigations on the root of W.spicata, no references are available in the literature on its pharmacognosy.

Chemical and pharamacological investigation of the roots were carried out by Joshi et al. (1957)8 and they also reported “Vakerin” (Bergenin 2%) in the root. The roots possesses antibacterial activity. Bhatnagar et al. (1961)9. Plant possess antiseptic properties Chopra et al (1958)6 and its effects on respiration and on cardiovascular Dhar et al. (1973)10. Since the roots of W. spicata Dalzell are sold in the various drug markets of Maharashtra, these were collected, identified and compared with genuine material for detecting adulteration if any and in view of the importance of the stem bark and the root in the indigenous system of medicine since long, a detailed pharmacognostic studies on them were undertaken. MATERIALS AND METHODS Genuine plant material as well as the market samples were collected in large quantities

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from Mahabaleshwar and Radhnagari (Maharashtra State) and from various drug markets of Maharashtra. Free hand and microtome sections were taken from the fresh material and market sample, stained in safranin and light green and finally mounted in Canada balsm as per usual procedure of Johansen, (1940)11. Some market sample as well as the root and stem bark of the genuine material were dried in the shade so as to prevent decomposition of active principles and they were powdered for phytochemical screening. Percentage extractives and ash were determined as given in British Pharmacopoea (1968)12. Fluorescence analysis of the powdered drug was carried out as per Chase, and Pratt., (1949)13. Macroscopic and microscopic characters were described as per Wallis, (1967)14. Estimation of proteins and carbohydrates

were carried out as per Lowry’s (1951)15 and Nelson’s (1944)16 methods respectively. In addition, histochemical and phytochemical tests were also carried out. (A) GENUINE MATERIAL: MACROSCOPIC CHARACTERS Fig 1 : HABIT Wagatea spicata Dalzel, a monotypic genus of climbing shrubs, with long trailing and prickly branches. Leaves bipinnate, pinnae 4 – 6 pairs; leaflets coriaceous, oblong, obtuse or subobtuse; flowers, orange, sessile, indense spicate, racemes; pods linear oblong with thickned sutures; seeds 3 – 4, obovate oblong, transverse with thick bony testa.

Fig 2 : BARK The bark is prickly. It is blackish before scraping and brownish after scraping, ½ cm. In thickness. The bark is bitter in taste.

Fig 3 : ROOT The tap root measures 3 – 4 cm in diameter. The tertiary root possess root nodules. The

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roots are dark brown before scraping and turn pale yellow after scraping. The facture is fibrous and the roots are bitter in taste. MICROSCOPIC CHARACTERS Fig 4 : T. S. of the BARK Transverse section of the bark shows phellem, phellogen and phelloderm. The phellem consists of thin walled rectangular and many layered tangentially elongated parenchymatous cells. Phellogen is made up of 2 – 3 layers of meristematic cells. The phelloderm is formed by many thin walled parenchymatous cells and it is followed by secondary phloem. Fig 5 : T. S. of the ROOT Transverse section of the root is circular in outline. The cork cells are thin walled,

rectangular and these are tangentially elongated. Below this lies 2 – 3 layered cork cambium which is made up of meristematic cells. A continuous zone of secondary thin walled parenchymatous cells is seen below the cork cambium. Secondary phloem is well developed, it is composed of sieve tubes, companion cells and phloem parenchyma. Vascular cambium forms a continuous ring between the secondary phloem and the secondary xylem. Secondary xylem region is characterized by the presence of many small and big vessels along with tracheids, fibres and xylem parenchyma. Medullary rays are 2 – 3 cells wide and radially elongated. The starch grains are present in the xylem and ray parenchyma, these are polyhedral with blunt angles or more or less rounded, mostly 10 – 17 µ in diameter.

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TABLE – I

Histochemical tests on the bark and the root of Wagatea spicata Dalzell.

TESTS REAGENTS RESULTS BARK LOCATION ROOT LOCATION

Starch

Tannins

Alkaloids

Iodine 10% Acidic FeCl3

Mayer’s reagent Wagner’s reagent Drangendorff’s reagent Conc. – H2SO4

-ve

+ve

+ve

+ve

+ve

+ve

-

Phelloderm

Phelloderm

Phelloderm

Phelloderm

Phelloderm

+ve

+ve

+ve

+ve

+ve

+ve

Xylem and ray Parenchyma Secondary Phloem, Xylem and ray Parenchyma Phloem – Parenchyma Phloem – Parenchyma Phloem – Parenchyma Phloem – Parenchyma

Histochemistry Histochemical tests were carried out on the genuine material and market sample for starch, tannins and alkaloids. For these tests free hand sections were taken and these were treated with different reagents. The results are given in the Table – I Phytochemistry Phytochemical tests were carried out on water extracts for starch, proteins, tannins, saponins, anthroquinones and reducing sugars and on alcohol extracts for alkaloids, flavonoids and glycosides.

(B) MARKET SAMPLE The market sample of the root of Wagatea spicata was compared macroscopically, microscopically and chemically with the genuine root sample and it has been seen that there is no difference between the root of the market sample and the genuine root sample and hence studies on the market samples are not shown in the proper and it is concluded that the market samples are genuine and they are of W. spicata only.

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TABLE – II

Phytochemical tests on the bark and the root of Wagatea spicata Dalzell

Tests Results

Bark * (G. M.)

Root (G. M.)

Root *(M.S.)

a) Water extracts : Starch

Proteins Tannins Saponins Anthroquinones Reducing sugar b) Alcohol extracts :

Alkaloids : Mayer’s reagent Wagner’s reagent Dragendroff’s reagent Picric acid Tannin acid Flavonoids Glycosides

-ve +ve +ve +ve -ve +ve

+ve +ve +ve +ve +ve -ve -ve

+ve +ve +ve +ve -ve +ve

+ve +ve +ve +ve +ve -ve -ve

+ve +ve +ve -ve -ve +ve

+ve +ve +ve +ve +ve -ve -ve

* G. M. : Genuine material * M. S. : Market sample

TABLE III

Estimation of proteins and carbohydrates in the bark and the root of Wagatea spicata

Dalzell

ITEM RESULTS

BARK * (G. M.)

ROOT (G. M.)

ROOT * (M.S.)

Proteins

Total sugars

Reducing sugars

Non – reducing sugars

Starch

0.9135 mg / gm

0.1514 mg/ gm

0.1333 mg/ gm

0.0191 mg/ gm

0.765 mg/ gm

1.960 mg/gm

0.1493 mg/gm

0.0932 mg/gm

0.0561 mg/gm

1.1359 mg/gm

1.4238 mg/gm

0.1250 mg/gm

0.0933 mg/gm

0.0317 mg/gm

1.0426 mg/gm

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TABLE – IV

Percentage extractives and ash in the bark and the root of Wagatea spicata Dalzell

ITEM RESULTS

BARK * (G. M.)

ROOT (G. M.)

ROOT * (M.S.)

Total ash

Acid insoluble ash

Extractives :

Water

Ethanol

Solvent ether

Petroleum ether

6.1

0.0941

1.5

2.0

1.0

1.5

8.5

0.1475

1.8

1.9

1.5

1.8

9.9

0.2121

1.9

2.0

1.6

2.0

TABLE – V

Fluorescence analysis of the bark and the root of Wagatea spicata Dalzell

TREATMENT

FLUORESCENCE EMITTED IN ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT

BARK * (G. M.)

ROOT (G. M.)

ROOT * (M.S.)

1) Powder as such mounted in Nitrocellulose 2) Powder treated with 1. N NaOH in

Methanol, dried for ½ hr and mounted in Nitrocellulose

3) Powder mounted in 1. N NaOH in

Methanol

Purple Brown Brown

Green

Green

Green

Pale green

Pale green

Pale green

SUMMARY Wagatea spicata Dalzell is known in vernacular as, “Vagati” or “Vakeri” is a well known drug used in the pneumonia and frequently used as an application for skin diseases. The roots of this plant has long been sold in various drug markets of Maharashtra, hence the detailed pharmacognostic studies have been carried

out which includes, macroscopic, microscopic characters, percentage extractives and ash, fluorescence analysis, histochemistry and phytochemistry to detect adulteration if any. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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Authors are grateful to the Head, Department of Botany, University of Poona, Pune – 411 007 for providing laboratory facilities. Sri. S. S. Deokule is also thankful

to the authorities of University Grants Commission, New Delhi for financial assistance during the preparation of this manuscript.

REFERENCES 1. Cooke, T., “The Flora of the Presidency of Bombay”, Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta,

Vol. I, 2nd Edn., P. 443. (1967). 2. Kirtikar, K. R. and Basu, B. D., “Indian Medicinal Plants”, Parabasi Press, Calcutta, Vol. I,

2nd Edn., P. 853. (1933). 3. Chopra, R. N., “Indigenous Drugs of India”, The art Press, 20 British Indian Street, Calcutta.

P. 538 (1933). 4. Nadkarni, A. K., “Indian Materia Medica”, Popular Book Depot., Lamington Road, Bombay,

Vo. I. P. 1290. (1927). 5. Chopra, R. N., Naiyar, S. L. and Chopra, I. C., “Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants”, C. S. I.

R., P. 257. (1956). 6. Chopra, R. N., Chopra, I. C., Handa, S. L. and Kapur L. D., “Indigenous Drugs of India”; U.

N. Dhur and Sons Pvt. Ltd., Calcutta, P. 599. (1958). 7. Maheshwari P. and Singh Umrao, “Dictionary of Economic Plants in India”, I. C. A. R., New

Delhi, Vol. 6, P. 297. (1965). 8. Joshi et al : “Chemical and Pharmacological Investigation of the Roots of Wagatea Spicata

Dalzell.”, Curr. Sci., Vol. 26, P. 147 (1967). 9. Bhatnagar, S. S., Santapau, H., Desai, J. D. H., Maniar, A. C., Chadially, M. J., Solomon S.,

Yellore and Rao T. N. S., “Biological Activity of Indian Medicinal Plants Part I”, Jour. Med. Res. Vol. 49, P. 799 (1961).

10. Dhar, M. L., Dhar, M. M. Dhawan, B. N., Mehrotra, R. C., Srimal and Tandon, J. S.,

“Screening of Indian Plants for Biological Activity Part IV”, Ind. Jour. Exp. Biol. Vol. 11, P. 43, (1973)..

11. Johansen, D. A., “Plant Microtechnique”, Mac Graw Hills Books Co. Inc. New York, 1st

Edn. PP. 151 – 154. (1940). 12. Anonymous, “British Pharmacopoeia”, General Medical Council, Pharmaceutical Press,

Blumsberg Square, London, P. 1068. (1968).

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13. Chese, C. R. and Pratt. R., “Fluorescence of powdered vegetable drugs with particular references to development of a system of identification”, Jour. Amer. Pharm. Asso. (Sci. ed) PP. 38 – 324. (1949).

14. Wallis, T. E., “Text book of Pharmacognosy”, J. and A. Churchill Ltd., London, PP. 68 – 70

(1967). 15. Lowry, O. H., Rosebrough, N. J., Farr, A. L. and Randall, R. J., “Protein measurement with

the Folin Phenol reagent”, Jour. Biol. Chem., Vol. 193, PP 265 – 275 (1951). 16. Nelson, N., “A photometric adaptation of the Somogyi Method for the determination of

Glucose”, Jour. Biol. Chem., Vol. 153, PP. 375 – 380 (1944).